Catillaz announces platform for H'town supervisor

August 22, 2012

SARANAC LAKE - Tom Catillaz has announced his platform in his bid to become the next supervisor of the town of Harrietstown.

In a press release sent to the Enterprise by a new group, the Friends of Tom Catillaz, the former village mayor and current village trustee said he wants to focus on jobs and lower taxes in the town, where he owns both a home in the village and a camp outside of it.

"I know we have to bring the entire town together and work together to save money and reach our full potential, bring in more jobs and get the airport into the black," Catillaz said in the release.

Article Photos

Tom Catillaz(Enterprise file photo — Chris Knight)

Town Councilman Bob Bevilacqua is running against Catillaz on the Republican line.

The release describes Catillaz as a "key player" in the village's effort to lure a pair of Lake Placid biotech companies - Myriad RBM and Active Motif - to Saranac Lake. Myriad RBM recently moved into the former village offices on Main Street. Active Motif is set to move into the former village Water Department building by October.

"I know how to get emerging companies interested in our beautiful Adirondack area and to nail 'em down," Catillaz said. "I'm ready to do the same for the town's industrial park near the airport which is not up to its capacity.

"I also want to make sure Trudeau Institute is stabilized and has an environment for future growth in our town. The jobs that Trudeau provides are vital to our community and I will do all I can to keep them here."

Catillaz, a Democrat, served as village mayor for seven years from 1999 to 2006, left public office and returned to the village board as a trustee in 2010. He's said he will resign his trustee seat if he's elected town supervisor.

Supporters have formed the Friends of Tom Catillaz campaign committee and created a Facebook page for it. The groups is chaired by Chad McCarthy, husband of village Trustee Barbara Rice, also a Democrat.

"Tom Catillaz is the right person for the job," McCarthy said in the release, "and will help make the town board an active player in local job creation and fight to lower taxes and keep their increases below the state-mandated 2 percent."

The release notes that the town tax levy increased 9.1 percent this year, 4.3 percent in 2011 and 13 percent in 2009.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 6. The winner will be supervisor for one year to complete the term Larry Miller vacated when he stepped down earlier this year. A full, four-year term will be on the ballot in 2013.